at an animal shelter

If you love dogs or cats or even rats, there is an animal shelter in the Portland metro area that would appreciate having you as a volunteer. Where else will you be paid in head butts, purrs, and licks!

Quick pet tips

During each TV Pet Show, a quick tip is shared. Here they are:

Know where your pet hides

Know where your pet hides when stressed or scared. In an emergency situation, that is where he or she will most likely be and the first place you should look. Train your dog to come right to you with a simple firm command. Learn how to safely yet firmly scruff your cat to place in a carrier quickly or use a pillow case for a safe, secure temporary way to get your cat out of harm’s way.

Litter boxes

Everyone likes a clean bathroom and so does your cat. To ensure your cat uses his or her litter box, scoop it daily. Place the litter box in a quiet location but not too out of the way for your cat to get to conveniently. You may consider having a litter box on each floor of your multi-level home. Experiment until you know your cat’s preference for litter, size of box, and location of the box. Often just having more than one litter box option will solve any issues you and your cat may be having. Of course, if your cat routinely eliminates outside the box, please consult your veterinarian.

Driving with pets

The safest place for your pet while you are driving is not in your lap or roaming free about the vehicle. Place your cat into a carrier, put the carrier in the back seat, away from the air bag, and if possible, use the seat belt to secure the carrier. Many dogs love to go on car rides and there are plenty of options to keep your dog safe and secure while enjoying the ride. Your unsecured pet can be injured if you need to stop abruptly or get into an auto crash. Train your dog to sit and stay on the back seat or in the back of a station wagon. Try a seat belt harness or even a special doggie car seat for smaller dogs.

Microchip

Is your pet’s microchip information up to date? If you adopted your pet from an animal shelter, often the microchip registration information will be connected to the shelter. The key to a microchip’s effectiveness is making sure your contact information is up to date and connected to your pet’s microchip number. To find out your pet’s chip number and manufacturer, ask your veterinarian to scan your pet. Once you have that information, you can visit the chip maker’s website and update the information. Microchips are permanent form of indemnification that will help your lost pet find its way back home.

Pet license

If you live in Washington or Clackamas County, your pet dog should be licensed with animal services. A license is required even if your dog is always on your property, always indoors, or lives on a farm. Dogs are required by law to wear their metal license tags whenever they’re off your property. Your dog’s license serves as another form of identification that will enable animal services officers to quickly reunite you with your pet. In fact, last year Washington County reunited over 1,100 stray dogs with their owners. Check with your local county animal shelter for details on how you can get your dog licensed.

Pet accidents

Nobody likes it when their pet has an accident inside the house. Sometimes it may be your pet was over excited, stressed, or access to the litter box was blocked. You will want to clean up the mess in a way to discourage repeat offenses. Regular carpet cleaners just mask the smell. Your goal should be to clean it up so you don’t see the stain and the urine odor is completely neutralized, especially for to the sensitive nose of your pet. I suggest using an enzyme cleaner to get to the root of the stain. Enzyme cleaners treat stains and odors simultaneously on a variety of surfaces. They don’t mask the smell, they neutralize it. If your pet continues to pee inappropriately, it could also be a sign something is wrong. Please make sure to check with your pet’s veterinarian.

Bad pet behavior

Often the behavior we find undesirable is just natural instinct for our pet. And the solution is to change our expectations and gently redirect the behavior. Remember, your pet is an animal. Cats need to scratch. It allows them to mark a territory, clean their claws, and stretch. Provide appropriate scratch posts and gently train your cat to use them. Dogs instinctively protect their territory from threats, be that a burglar or your friend. You can reduce this aggressive instinct by having your dog neutered, train your dog on proper manners when meeting a stranger, and advise visitors how to greet your dog correctly. Knowing the instinct driving the behavior can help you better train or redirect undesirable behaviors in your pet.

Pets as gifts

Giving pets as a gift can be a wonderful thing, if done correctly. Here’s how:

Give a gift certificate for adoption from your local animal shelter then you can spend time picking out the correct pet
Wrap a box full of pet supplies to put under the tree or to give as the gift, then involve the recipient in picking the right pet
As a family, visit the shelter so everyone has a chance to find your family’s new member

No curling ribbon

Avoid using curling ribbon on gifts. Cats love to eat it. It can cause some sever damage to their GI tracts - cutting the intestines or causing a blockage, which could mean surgery.

Spaying and neutering

Would it shock you that 13 percent of owned cats and 22 percent of owned dogs are not fixed?

Goals for the New Year

New Year’s resolutions

It can be hard to stick to your New Year resolutions. If your resolution benefit your pet, would you be more likely to keep it?

In 2009, the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit discovered that 28.4 percent of smokers who participated in an online survey (3,300 people) indicated they were more motivated to quit smoking after learning second hand smoke was bad for their pet’s health.

Here are some ways your pet will benefit from you sticking to your resolutions:

Exercise you and your pet: Over 50 percent of pets are overweight or obese. The formula for weight loss in your dog or cat is similar to what all the diet experts preach: reduce calories and increase activity.

Cleaning out cabinets: Watch where where you dispose of old cleaners and expired medicines. Many are highly toxic to your pet. Replace those chemical cleaners with some that are natural and pet-friendly. You may even save some money.

Watch the show

What will your pet find under the tree?

Must have toys for your pet

More than half of you will be getting your pet a gift for Christmas with most of you also hanging up a stocking for your dog or cat.